This week, we recognize National Police Week. It is a time to honor the brave men and women of law enforcement and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
We are incredibly blessed to have such outstanding law enforcement officers here in Northeast Wisconsin. From our county sheriffs to local police departments, our brave men and women in blue work tirelessly every single day to keep us safe, and we owe them a deep debt of gratitude.
Unfortunately, the job law enforcement officers do can often be thankless. Rather than having their backs, some politicians have belittled them or pushed policies that make it harder for them to do their jobs. We saw this in 2020 with the rise of the Democrats’ “Defund the Police” rhetoric, and we continue to see the consequences of their reckless policies play out in blue cities across the country, where policies like cashless bail allow criminals to use our justice system as a revolving door.
As your representative in Congress, you have my word that I will always stand with our men and women in law enforcement and will do everything in my power to ensure they have the tools they need to do their jobs. That is exactly what I was proud to join my House Republican colleagues to do this week by passing several pro-law enforcement bills.
One of these pieces of legislation, which I was proud to co-sponsor, was introduced by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI-05) and was titled the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act. This commonsense bill updates federal law on insurance-related crimes to classify any corporate, nonprofit, or for-profit entity that posts bail as being ‘engaged in the business of insurance’. By making this change, Congress is targeting organizations that exploit loopholes to bail out offenders who pose a threat to public safety.
Additionally, we passed the Cashless Bail Reporting Act, which requires the Attorney General to publish a public list of places that allow certain serious offenders to be released without cash bail. Cashless bail has been a failed experiment in Democrat-run cities across the country and has allowed criminals to get out of jail before the arresting officer even finishes their shift. The public deserved to know exactly where this is taking place. Another bill that I was proud to cosponsor was the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, which strengthens the tools that law enforcement has available to crackdown on this ongoing threat to our businesses.
Lastly, we passed a straightforward resolution that simply expresses support for our law enforcement officers around the country and the jobs they do to keep us safe. Unbelievably, 173 of my Democrat colleagues voted against this. It is absolutely appalling, but it once again shows they would rather side with criminals than with the people who protect our communities.
Republicans are for safety, order, accountability, and respect for the people who serve. Democrats have proved time and again that they are not. That is why we will continue passing legislation like this to keep our communities safe and ensure our law enforcement officers know their leaders support them.
To all our great officers in Wisconsin’s 8th District: your hard work does not go unnoticed, and please know I will always have your back.
Thanks again for starting your weekend with us. Next weekend is Memorial Day – a day to honor and mourn the members of our military who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our country. As you enjoy the weekend, remember their sacrifices and be thankful to those who gave everything for us to live in the greatest country in the world. We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of The Wied Wire, and we will see you back here in two weeks with more!
In the Wieds
Pumped Up for E15
This week, I was proud to vote in support of H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, which I have also cosponsored. It will now head to the Senate for final approval. This bill would allow year-round nationwide sales of ethanol blends up to 15 percent, commonly called E15. Wisconsin is home to 9 ethanol refineries and ranks 8th in ethanol production. This provides our farmers with increased domestic corn markets. This would also expand consumer choices, especially as gas prices continue to rise. In Green Bay, E15 can cost consumers up to 20 cents per gallon less than regular gasoline, providing potential savings at the pump. This is a win for consumers and farmers, and I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this bill and send it to President Trump’s desk.
Clearing the Way: The PLOW Storms Act
I was proud to join Rep. Bergman (R-MI) and Rep. Stauber (R-MN) in introducing the PLOW Storms Act, a bill that would amend the Clean Air Act to include snowplows under the definition of emergency vehicles. Under current law, emergency vehicles are exempt from EPA regulations requiring fleets to use a certain percentage of “clean fuel” to meet emission standards. The problem is that modern diesel engines are designed with pollution-control systems that often malfunction in cold weather and automatically cut engine power. Snowplows are not specifically mentioned as emergency vehicles, which has led to uncertainty and could result in a patchwork of interpretations. This bill aims to stop that from happening. Wisconsin knows that keeping roads open in the winter is just as much a lifesaver as an ambulance or a fire truck, and it is time that the law reflects that.
District Update
Supporting Law Enforcement: Shawano County Sheriff’s Office
[see featured photo above] As we celebrate National Police Week, it’s important that we recognize the brave men and women in law enforcement who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. I had the opportunity to visit Shawano County Sheriff Lenzner and meet other dedicated deputies and correctional officers to learn more about their service and daily operations. I want to thank Sheriff Lenzner and his team for having me and all of our men and women in uniform throughout Northeast Wisconsin for your unwavering service and commitment.
Soaring Eagle Scouts in Appleton
My office recently attended an Eagle Scout Court of Honor to recognize five new Eagle Scouts for achieving the highest rank in scouting. This is an important milestone worthy of celebration, and I was proud to offer each of them my congratulations and support. This achievement reflects years of hard work and dedication, along with the guidance and support of their families, troop leaders, and community members. Congratulations to Braedon, Matthew, Elijah, Adin, and Dylan on this accomplishment!
2026 U.S. Service Academy Application Released Today!
One of the greatest privileges as your Congressman is the opportunity to nominate outstanding young men and women from the 8th Congressional District to attend one of our U.S. Service Academies. The application deadline for the 2026 Service Academy Applications for my office is Friday, September 25, 2026. All applications must be fully completed and must be received by my District Office no later than 5:00pm on Friday, September 25th, 2026. No late applications will be accepted, so please contact my District Office at 920-301-4500 with any questions.
You can find additional information regarding the Service Academy Nomination process on my website here.
Constituent Services Spotlight
Providing the best constituent services to the people of the 8th Congressional District is a top priority for me, from Veterans Affairs (VA) to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), my staff and I are here to help! To request assistance with a Federal Agency, you can contact my District Office at 920-301-4500 or submit a message through my website here.
Photo of the Week
We have received so many wonderful pictures since we launched the Photo of the Week section of the Wied Wire, and I would love to continue seeing more. This week’s photo is of a beautiful flower spotted blooming in Appleton. If you would like to submit a picture to be featured in an upcoming Photo of the Week, please email it to twstaff@mail.house.gov with your name and location. We look forward to highlighting more of your photos that celebrate the places and moments that make Wisconsin special.
